01.26.07
George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468
STATUS REPORT: ELV-012607
EXPENDABLE LAUNCH VEHICLE STATUS REPORT
Mission: THEMIS (Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions
During Substorms)
Launch Pad: 17-B, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
Launch Vehicle: United Launch Alliance Delta II
Launch Date: Feb. 15, 2007
Launch Time: 6:08 - 6:27 p.m. EST
At the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA Kennedy Space
Center, engineers and technicians are preparing the THEMIS spacecraft
for mating to the upper stage booster, planned for Monday. The
spacecraft will then be installed into its transportation canister on
Feb. 1 and moved to Launch Complex 17 on Cape Canaveral Air Force
Station on Feb. 2 for mating with the Delta II later that day.
At Launch Complex 17, the stacking of the Delta II launch vehicle is
complete on Pad 17-B. Prelaunch checkout and testing is under way.
Initial leak checks of the first stage propellant systems were
conducted on Thursday. Technicians are now performing guidance and
control system checks.
On Monday, a "LOX leak check" will be performed by loading liquid
oxygen aboard the first stage during a simulated countdown. The next
day, a Simulated Flight Test will be performed, activating the
vehicle's post-liftoff flight systems without fuel aboard. The
electrical and mechanical systems of the entire Delta II will be
exercised during this test. Once the THEMIS payload is attached to
the third stage of the launch vehicle, a final major test, the Flight
Program Verification will be conducted on Feb. 6. This is an
integrated test of the Delta II and THEMIS working together. This
test will simulate all events as they will occur on launch day, but
without propellants aboard the launch vehicle.
Previous status reports are available on the Web at:
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/launchingrockets/status/2007
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